By our Staff Writer
The Liberia Maritime Authority (LMA) does not have in place effective monitoring, enforcement and coastal management policies aligned to the achievement of goals of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14, a Coastal and Marine management audit has said.
The audit, which covered the period July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016, was conducted by the General Auditing Commission in collaboration with GAC counterparts in the African Organization for supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI).
It focused on the United Nations Sustainable development Goals (SDG) 13, 14 and 15.
Less than six months in office, Liberia’s new President George Manneh Weah officially launched the Coastal Defense Project in the Borough of New Kru Town on the Bushrod Island near Monrovia aimed at preventing sea erosion in the area.
Speaking on Friday, July 13, 2018 during the ceremony, President Weah assured the people of Liberia that he will not let them down, and referenced the ongoing Coastal Defense project as just one of the many projects serving as precursor to the good news that will soon be revealed in the country.
Both D. Tweh High (the only public high school on the Bushrod Island) and the Redemption Hospital (the only public referral hospital in the area) are closed to being engulfed by the rampaging sea erosion by the Atlantic Ocean.
“Just right there is the D. Tweh High School; that school has made and continues to make numerous contributions in impacting and building the capacity of Liberians, many of whom are making significant and positive contributions to the Liberian society; therefore, the government and its partners will do their best to save the school and the community,” President Weah said.
Besides threat to the destruction of both major public facilities, homes and other structures along the coast from New Kru Town to the huge densely populated slum community of West Point in Central Monrovia had since been wiped out by sea erosion, leaving thousands of people homeless.
Coastal cities such as Buchanan and Greenville are also said to be seriously threatened by sea erosion, as some important landmarks have already been consumed by the tides from the Atlantic Ocean.
But the Coastal and marine management collaborative audit reached Adverse Conclusion that:
“There exists no effective legislation and/or regulatory requirements aligned to coastal management and targets of the UN SGDs 14. The Liberia Maritime Authority does not have the required technology and/or logistics such as satellite surveillance, broadcast equipment, boats, helicopters and human resources to prevent and/or monitor marine pollution by ships. The Liberia Maritime Authority does not have capacity to ensure that ship comply with its regulation to lower carbon emissions in high sea. There is no effective legislation and/or regulatory requirements to ensure that climate change targets are achieved in line with SDGs.”
“The main objective of this audit Report,” signed by Auditor General, Madam Yusador S. Gaye, “is to present an overview of some of the significant issues and risks faced by Liberia’s coastal communities relating to their coastal zone management and activities in compliance with stated laws, regulations and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
Purpose of the audit was to assess the social, economic, environmental and atheistic impacts of the overall coastal and marine management in Liberia
Other Objectives of the audit was to gather sufficient appropriate audit evidence to conclude whether funds receipts and disbursements for Liberia’s overall coastal management and projects are in compliance, in all material respects, with policies, procedures, applicable laws and international regulations.
The report said that the Audit Methodology was conducted in accordance with International Standards of Supreme Audit Institution.
According to the audit report, the Coastal and marine Management activities of Liberia Maritime Authority are not in compliance, in all material respects, with stated laws, regulations and UN SDGs, thus posing further risk.
“The lack of Maritime surveillance may result in ships not being monitored as well as pollution not identified timeously. This could affect marine species and biodiversity. 1.2.1.6 Conservation goals and targets may not be met and could result in an unsustainable coastal zones and resources,” says Risk 1.2.1.5 cited in the report.
The Coastal and marine management collaborative audit made a number of recommendations that the Liberia Maritime Authority (LMA) “should ensure that goals and targets set for the GOL policy on SDGs with specific emphasis on coastal monitoring and enforcement are achieved.”
It also said that “the Liberia Maritime Authority should provide substantive justification why surveillance logistics are not available to ensure the effective monitoring of ships in the Liberian waters,” among other things.